Superhydrophobic Surfaces Engineered Using Diatomaceous Earth

last updated: 2013-06-27
TitleSuperhydrophobic Surfaces Engineered Using Diatomaceous Earth
Publication TypePapers in Scientific Journals
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsOliveira N. M., Reis R. L., and Mano J. F.
Abstract
Abstract Image

We present a simple method to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces using siliceous exoskeleton of diatoms, a widespread group of algae. This makes diatomaceous earth an accessible and cheap natural material. A micro/nanoscale hierarchical topography was achieved by coating a glass surface with diatomaceous earth, giving rise to a superhydrophilic surface. Superhydrophobic surfaces were obtained by a further surface chemical modification through fluorosilanization. The wettability of the superhydrophobic surface can be modified by Argon plasma treatment in a controlled way by exposure time variation. The chemical surface modification by fluorosilanization and posterior fluorinated SH surface modification by plasma treatment was analyzed by XPS. Using appropriated hollowed masks only specific areas on the surface were exposed to plasma permitting to pattern hydrophilic features with different geometries on the superhydrophobic surface. We showed that the present strategy can be also applied in other substrates, including thermoplastics, enlarging the potential applicability of the resulting surfaces.

JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Volume5
Issue10
Pagination4202–4208
Date Published2013-05-22
PublisherACS Publications
ISSN1944-8252
DOI10.1021/am4003759
URLhttp://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/am4003759
Keywordsbioinspiration, diatomaceous earth, micropatterning, superhydrophobic surfaces, Surface modification
RightsrestrictedAccess
Peer reviewedyes
Statuspublished

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